He'd look forward to each episode as Lassie would save the day on each and every
airing of this show. His mother had memorized Kevin's question as it was sure to
follow at the end of every episode of "Lassie."
Per usual, he quickly spun around while sitting 'Indian Style' on the floor and
asked, "Mom? Can I have a Lassie dog? Please mom?"
As she gazed into his eager eyes she replied, "Honey, I'd love to give you a dog
like Lassie, but I've said it before--dogs like Lassie like to be outside and
run."
Desperately trying to convince him she added, "Kevin, I have told you over and
over again that our yard is too small for a Lassie dog!"
Kevin appeared pensive for a moment and then excitingly exclaimed, "I have an
idea mom! I'll teach the Lassie dog to stay by me all of the time so she won't
get lost or hurt!"
His mother appeared surprised that Kevin could creatively think on his feet so
quickly.
"That's a really neat idea sweetheart, but Lassie is what's known as a Collie
and you can't teach a Collie to stay by your side all of the time because
they're outside dogs and I'm afraid your Lassie dog would run away. Do you
understand what I'm saying honey?"
Kevin looked down and was clearly disappointed by what he felt was his last
ditch effort to gain his mother's favor as it would relate to his getting his
youthful mind's hero -- a dog and friend like Lassie.
Months passed and Kevin stopped asking his mother whether or not he could get a
dog like Lassie. She noticed his increasing quietness and sadness with each
passing episode and thought back to her childhood. Her parents surprised her one
Christmas with a little ugly mutt that she adored. She got this ugly little dog
that Christmas when she was about her son's age and the guilt of not allowing
Kevin to have a dog to be his best friend finally got to her. One afternoon
after yet another episode of "Lassie", she decided, right or wrong, to give in
to Kevin's earlier repeated desire to have a dog of his own. "Kevin?", she
asked, "How about us going down to the dog pound today and getting you a dog?
The dog won't be as pretty as Lassie, but I know we can find a dog that you'd
love."
Kevin's eyes lit up like a 50 watt bulb with no lamp shade as he exclaimed,
"Really mom?! Yes, I don't care anymore about getting a Lassie dog! Can we go
now?" He enthusiastically asked.
"We sure can honey! Put your shoes on and let's go on down to the dog pound and
find you the perfect dog!"
Kevin jumped up and hurriedly put his shoes on and headed directly to the car.
Upon arriving at the dog pound, she asked the old man who ran the shelter which
dog out of all of the dogs there would be the most loyal and well trained dog
for her eager little boy. Without a moment's pause, the man replied, "Oh, that's
an easy question to answer. Follow me back and I'll show you the perfect dog for
your son."
Kevin and his mother followed the old man back to the last cage on the right.
"There she is ma'am. This would be the dog I'd choose and I'd already have her
myself but we have a half-dozen dogs at home and just don't have room for
"Fire."
She was taken back as she looked at this homely dog with little hair as the mutt
looked like she had been badly burned.
After she got over the initial shock of such a sight, she asked, "Has this dog
been burned and are you sure this would be the right dog for Kevin?"
The old man looked at Kevin and noticed his eyes were misting with tears. "Oh
I'd bet my life on it ma'am!", he confidently replied.
"Ma'am?", he inquired, "Did you not hear about the dog that laid on top of the
little girl during the forest fire up on Red Bird Mountain? This was the dog
that they featured in the local paper. This rascal saved the little girl's life
and just about lost her own by covering that little girl with her body!"
She thought for a bit and answered, "Well of course I did! Are you telling me
that this is that dog?"
"Yes, it sure is. No one has taken her because of how she looks and I would have
put her to sleep but it's hard to end a life that saved one!" He somberly
replied.
"Do you want this dog Kevin? Sounds like you'd have yourself a hero like Lassie
if we brought her home." Kevin's eyes had full-blown tears in them now.
"I want her mom! Can we take her back with us?" She quickly glanced at the old
man who was moved to tears himself at this point.
"She's ours sweetheart."
They took "Fire" home and she never left Kevin's side and was his constant
companion--never once even attempting to leave the yard or run out of the gate
if mistakenly left open. Every night Kevin would say his prayers when his mother
would tuck him in and he never failed to pray that "Fire" would be healed and
get her hair back.
After about five weeks, Kevin's constant prayers were obviously being answered
as the once terribly disfigured mutt's hair rapidly began to grow back. Perhaps
it was Kevin and his mother's imagination, but the more Fire's hair grew back,
the more she resembled Lassie.
Kevin's mother opted to call the old man at the dog pound as her curiosity was
overwhelmingly piqued. "Hello," the old man responded on the other end of the
phone, "Corbin County dog pound. My name is Joe and how can we help you today?"
"Hi Joe, I came in a month or so ago with my son and we got the dog you named
Fire.
"Yes ma'am, he replied happily, "I'm glad you called. Been wondering how old
Fire has been doing. How can I help you?"
She took a deep breath and asked, "Well Joe, I'm curious about just one thing
and thought you might know the answer. What kind of mutt is Fire?"
The old man softly chuckled before replying. "Ma'am", Fire isn't a mutt."
Confused she continued, "If she's not a mutt, what kind of dog is she?"
He chuckled again and replied, "Fire's momma' and daddy are both show dogs. Fire
is a full-bred Collie."
(C) -2000 Brian G. Jett bjett1@alltel.net
"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides upon the
clouds; his name is the Lord, exult before Him!" Psalm 68: 4
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